Election: Covington has much at stake

Pat Frew, executive director of the Covington Business Council and Urban Partnership of Covington, stands above Madison Avenue. He says the city must focus on retaining businesses, and many commission candidates agree.(Photo: The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy)

Covington residents who head to the polls May 20 will decide who is most qualified to pull their city forward as it works on becoming a hot-spot among Northern Kentucky's river cities.

Most of the 13 City Commission candidates say they are running for one of two reasons: to move the needle more on economic development, which in turn fuels neighborhoods, and to replace the existing commission, known for bickering and plagued with scandal. Eight candidates will move on to November's general election.

Covington faces a wide array of issues, among them continuing small business growth while retaining current businesses, addressing neighborhood flooding, gaining a stable city commission and moving past the scandal of a nearly $800,000 embezzlement by the city's ex-finance director.

The slate of candidates includes the four sitting commissioners. They say they want to continue the progress made during their tenure. Many of the newcomers say they want a more collaborative approach among commissioners.

Here's a rundown of some of the issues in Covington:

Business leaders say any new commission needs to focus on retention, a key to progress in Covington.

Pat Frew, executive director of Covington Business Council & Urban Partnership of Covington, said the latest direction has been about bringing new commercial activity into the city's core.

"It's common in a city: The siren song is to go after the unattainable that you've never had," Frew said. "That's great. But we also have to pay attention to what we have here now."

Frew said it's clear that owners want more city support. They are are "the most critical" to Covington's success, he said.

Parking availability downtown – "and not just meters" – is key for existing businesses, he said, and any new leaders should address the issue.

Covington's urban resurgence has been fueled by efforts including UpTech, bioLOGIC, prospects for the Hotel Covington and Gateway Community and Technical College's urban campus. The city has its first five-year infrastructure budget, promising street and sidewalk repairs and more freshening up that hasn't been a priority in years.

Incumbent Steve Frank says the progress is a great start. He points to Gateway's Urban Campus, the tech corridor that includes UpTech and the renovation of the Mutual Building for apartments and commercial use.

Chuck Eilerman, also an incumbent, said the city is "aggressively pursuing new development." Along with the Covington Economic Development Fund, Northern Kentucky Catalytic Development Fund and local lenders, he also wants strategic use of targeted incentives.

Candidate Jordan Huizenga said he wants to enhance current progress.

"I will focus on creating an environment that attracts and grows business," Huizenga said. "This means infrastructure investments, easy parking, clean, attractive and safe streets and ensuring city staff work proactively with business."

Candidate Danny L. Jackson said he'll commit to a retail district downtown. Candidate Warner Allen, too, has said through his campaign that "working on new and innovative ways to retain small businesses" is important to improve the business landscape. He wants to strengthen bonds with businesses and residents.

New city leaders also need to continue to push for neighborhood flood-relief funds and plans as well as representation on Sanitation District No. 1, say some residents and candidate Bill Wells, a longtime neighborhood activist.

The City Commission in April approved applying $600,000 in two grants from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority toward a series of retention basins to curb severe flooding in some neighborhoods.

Susan Barnett, vice-chairwoman of the Friends of Peaselburg Neighborhood Association, said the city and SD1 should continue to partner on solutions for flooding in Covington. Like Frew, she wants "assistance for existing and new business – especially small businesses."

Wells agrees that Covington needs to be better represented on SD1. Also looking toward the needs of neighborhoods and the business landscape, Wells advocates land banking, through which the city acquires titles to vacant and abandoned properties to redevelop them.

Under the current administration, blight is being addressed through targeted purchases of abandoned and foreclosed properties so that they can be demolished. Neighborhood associations report the results are beneficial.

Incumbent Michelle Williams, who frequently opposed Commissioner Eilerman and Mayor Sherry Carran, said she provides "a voice in Covington communities" and partnerships with neighbors to assure they get what they need.

Barnett also wants continued efforts to pave streets and repair or replace sidewalks. That concept is underway, thanks to the infrastructure plan the city established last year.

A nagging issue for the commission is improving public confidence following last fall's discovery that former Finance Director Bob Due embezzled $793,000 from the city over 13 years.

Some candidates question whether the city manager or administration should also have been blamed. Others say city leaders did everything right – immediately informing both law enforcement and the public about what happened and immediately taking steps to prevent more thefts.

Eilerman points to efficiency among city staff and a quick response: "Covington is fortunate to have a staff including experienced, capable, and dedicated individuals across the board," he said. "We have adopted stringent new financial controls, more communicative budgeting formats, and are continuing to build a strong organization which is open, innovative and responsive."

When the current board took office in January 2013, hopes were high that commissioners would be as cooperative and respectful as the previous commission.

Then-Mayor Chuck Scheper is credited with creating a "unified" commission and with moving Covington forward.

Within months, however, the new commissioners began openly sniping during public meetings and were sharply divided on numerous issues.

Candidate Chas Brannen – along with others – campaigned from the start on bringing "civility" to the commission. He said he's always been a fan of the Scheper way. He said incumbents Williams and Mildred Rains have hampered the potential of progress by continuously voting in opposition to Carran and Eilerman.

Williams and Rains have said they vote their conscience and will not stop doing so.

In the last couple of months, open discord has appeared to die down at City Commission meetings, but some candidates, including Jackson, question whether that's because the primary election is nearing.

Regardless, the final eight candidates will set up the real fight for the November election. And residents will have to choose what kind of a commission they want. ⬛